# Sign Regulations in Stanhope Borough, New Jersey

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Stanhope Borough, New Jersey, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Stanhope Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/stanhope-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10121907#10121907)

## At a glance

Stanhope Borough, New Jersey regulates 15 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single-tenant)s in the Commercial zones, Business zones, Industrial zones, Village/Business Zone zoning district are capped at Less than or equal to 20 feet (state highway), 15 feet (county road), 8 feet (municipal road), and no higher than principal structure tall and 50 square feet, with a 15 ft (≤25 sf), 20 ft (26-75 sf), 30 ft (≥76 sf) setback from the right-of-way (Sec. §100-127C(4)(b); §100-127D(4)). Most commercial signs in Stanhope Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-family residential | 1 | — | 2 square feet | — |
| Residential | 2 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| Institutional | 3 | — | 30 square feet | — |
| Commercial zones, Business zones, Industrial zones, Village/Business Zone | 5 | Less than or equal to 20 feet (state highway), 15 feet (county road), 8 feet (municipal road), and no higher than principal structure | 150 square feet total, Board may permit up to 7% of building face (if meets integrated plan) | — |
| Residential district | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 16 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Institutional

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Institutional Freestanding Sign | — | 30 square feet | — | — | 1 per property | On property of institution | — | §100-127C(3)(a)-(b) |
| Institutional Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to the face of the institution structure | — | §100-127C(3)(c) |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises only | — | §100-127F(2) |

### Commercial zones, Business zones, Industrial zones, Village/Business Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single-tenant) | — | 100 square feet (total, all signs except freestanding) | — | — | — | Affixed to the building face | — | §100-127C(4)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Single-tenant) | Less than or equal to 20 feet (state highway), 15 feet (county road), 8 feet (municipal road), and no higher than principal structure | 50 square feet | — | See General Regulations for minimum from right-of-way (§100-127D(6)): 15 ft (≤25 sf), 20 ft (26-75 sf), 30 ft (≥76 sf) | 1 per property | On the property | — | §100-127C(4)(b); §100-127D(4) |
| Wall Sign (Multitenant) | — | 150 square feet total, Board may permit up to 7% of building face (if meets integrated plan) | — | — | — | Affixed to structure | — | §100-127C(5)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multitenant) | Less than or equal to 20 feet (state highway), 15 feet (county road), 8 feet (municipal road), and no higher than principal structure | 75 square feet | — | See General Regulations for minimum from right-of-way (§100-127D(6)): 15 ft (≤25 sf), 20 ft (26-75 sf), 30 ft (≥76 sf) | 1 per property | On the property | — | §100-127C(5)(d); §100-127D(4) |
| Window Sign (Temporary) | — | 30% of interior window area | — | — | — | Interior of windows (not on doors) | — | §100-127E(3)(a)-(d) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | <= 3 square feet | — | — | — | As shown on approved site plan | — | §100-127D(7) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | — | On the property associated with the event | — | §100-127E(1)(a-c) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | — | On the lot for sale or lease | — | §100-127E(2)(a-c) |

## Prohibited signs in Stanhope Borough

- All signs which are not specifically permitted herein are prohibited.
- Billboards and other signs which advertise products, services or activities conducted off premises.
- Permanent changeable copy displays are not permitted, except for public schools, churches and similar institutions (and only on their premises).
- All signs which move, rotate or use flashing lights or utilize mechanically changing displays, except for time-and-temperature signs.
- Portable or movable signs.
- External neon or fluorescent signs of any kind.
- Fully lighted canopies.
- Advertising signs shall not be permitted in any residential district in the municipality.
- No person shall paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement or inscription whatever on any public lands or highways or roads adjacent to a park, except as permitted by the Mayor and Borough Council or their designated agent.
- Signs, whether portable, permanent or temporary, other than municipal, county or state signs, shall not be erected within the right-of-way of any street or approved sight easements nor shall any sign be located so as to constitute a traffic hazard.
- Signs attached to a principal structure shall not extend above the facade of the building.
- No sign shall be permitted which is not directly related to the business conducted on the property.
- Internally lighted exterior signs are not permitted in the Village/Business Zone.

## Signs exempt from permit in Stanhope Borough

- Directional signs having areas of less than three square feet are exempt from area and location regulations, provided that they do not constitute a hazard to the traveling public, but shall be shown on an approved site plan.
- No permit shall be required for temporary signs, including banners, pennants and flyers, provided that they do not exceed 16 square feet.
- Temporary window signs in business districts for community events or special promotions, following limitations set elsewhere in the ordinance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each site plan application shall include a sign plan showing the specific design, location, size, construction and illumination in compliance with ordinance regulations.
- All proposed permanent freestanding signs associated with a site plan application shall be submitted to the reviewing board for approval as part of the site plan application.
- The sign plan for multitenant commercial structures shall be based on an integrated design theme and is subject to approval by the reviewing board.
- Applications for new permanent freestanding signs or relocation/replacement of existing freestanding signs on developed sites require subcommittee written comment or recommendation by the Planning Board.
- All applicants seeking permits or approval for signs must submit information including style, dimensions, illumination methods, materials, structural details, landscaping, area and height, location, and computations for structural strength (for freestanding signs over eight feet).

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 6 zoning districts in Stanhope Borough — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Stanhope+Borough+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-stanhope-borough

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/stanhope-borough